Laurette

Absolutely. Because of the warmth and humor. There were moments that were so funny I laughed out loud. They are funny in a quirky way - because the characters are so distinct and they get into all sorts of predicaments. I think my favorite of these quirky scenes was with one of the older female characters... I could just picture it... an older lady, walking down the side walk with a click-ity-clack of high heels, beehive hairdo, and a unlit cigarette hanging out of her mouth (only there to fulfill a long time habit), pushing an office chair headed toward a picnic in a parking stall with her childhood best friend.The description of this scene transported me right there and made me alugh! The quirkiness of the characters, not just in this scene but others too, was just delightful.

I think what I loved equally as much was the relationships of all the women and how interconnected they were; regardless of age, social standing or race, it was the connections that made this book sparkle. The main description had it right - a good comparison to Steel Magnolias and The Help.

Steel Magnolias and The Help. This is a book that is set mostly in the south - Georgia. I've never been but it makes me want to go. Both Steel Magnolias and The Help are books that highlight the relationships between women.

The characters accents and voices. My imagination isn't that good. She brings life to their voices in a way that I wouldn't have heard in my own head.

Lots that made me laugh.
The scene that moved me was the scene where Oletta doesn't want to share her potato salad and CeeCee figures out how much Oletta really needs her love and friendship.

This is a very creative dystopian series. I like adventure mixed with romance, as long as the romance is clean. This book provided both of those elements in abundance. I also like a book that makes me think about deeper values. This book also offered that: a fictional look at what would happen to us, if we eliminated some of the more painful parts of the human experience. The imagined world is very creative and I enjoyed seeing it in my mind!A note of caution... I found myself having a difficult time getting into the book. It seemed a little slow at first. Also, it took me quite a while to get used to the narrator's voice. Usually narrators don't bug me much, but this one did for a long time at the beginning. She reads well and has really good inflection to differentiate characters, but the actual tenor/tone of the voice irritated me. However, as the story went along I got used it and at that point, the voice became invisible as I imagined the characters and world the author had created.

A few. First, when the main characters realize what you've know all along that they are attracted to each other and care about each other. This happens gradually and deliciously over several chapters of the book. Second, when one of the characters saves the good guys from the cannibals with his extraordinary ability due to a genetic predisposition. Writing this almost makes it sound like spiderman or something similar. Its not superhero save the world kinda stuff, though, jjust so you aren't mislead!

I didn't love her voice at first. However, as the book wore on I got used to it. She is very good at inflecting characters personalities.

Like other teen romance novels, The Selection is clean. No sex. I appreciate that. But there is a lot of yummy romance. I enjoyed getting to know the main character - America and found her to be believable and very likable.

Like other dystopian stories, I liked the examination of societal values. In this story there is a caste system which makes it very hard for some, who are born into lower castes, to make something of thier lives. With those who are born into upper castes, life is pretty easy as far as meeting basic needs, and there is a lack of understanding or recognition of the difficulty for the lower castes. It makes a person reflect on our actual North American society today. Although we may not have castes, I wonder if the old "American dream" - the opportunity to better yourself - is getting harder to obtain that in past decades? Do the successful people understand what its like to struggle - are they compassionate to others?

This book also speaks to the idea of freedom and agency. I always love that theme - as it makes me appreciate my own opportunities to choose.

The book is a little bit predictable, but I don't mind that when there are great characters. Although it ends on the edge of a cliff! Dang it! I can't believe I have to wait for the next book to come out - I want to know what America will choose!

I didn't love the narration. It wasn't terrible, but just wasn't awesome like other books. I can't put my finger on why.

Divergent, Hunger Games, or any other book based on a dystopian society. Just because they are about a dystopian society. Like other similar books, it forces you to think about your values. In The Giver one you think about how your own bad experiences (that you sometimes wish you could forget) actually help to shape you. The silver lining of those experiences is that you learn from them. It reinforced what I've always believed (even if I don't like it in the moment) that difficult experiences make me a better person, and they deepen my gratitude for the good things in life.

I have heard there are to be five books in this series, but after listening to this book, I am thinking Tiger's Destiny is the final one. The conclusion just felt so satisfying which is awesome. Some books don't give you that. I have loved this series so it is great to have it end so well.

I loved that Kelsey finals figures out who to be with - Ren or Kishan and stops driving them both nuts.

As usual for this series, it is full of adventure and romance! And the beginning sure starts out with a bang! The story gripped right from the first few minutes.

Meeting Durga in the past. Put a whole new twist on the entire series - I remembered back to particular scenes and saw them differently.

Love all the accents and characterizations. I don't know how she remembers the exact intonation for each of those many characters, but she does it. I can tell who is talking just from the way she speaks for each one.

Really enjoyed the continuation of the story from book 1. The book flips back and forth between past and present and I liked that. A good way of giving context to the events in the current time.

The ending. I won't spoil it but there was a significant surprise. Can't wait for book three to see how that all unfolds.

Yes. I didn't listen to it in all one sitting, but did listen to it fairly quickly.

Really good characters and emotions and ideas - I could easily put myself in their shoes.

I also loved what the book made me think about. Because there are people in the book who are 'cured' from having to love other humans... and the author shows the impact of life without love... I started to think about that. Who we love is so clearly connected to our ability to choose. I reconfirmed my opinion that it is our choices that truly make us individuals. It is our choices that define us.

Its a little like Divergent and Hunger Games. They are all distopian fictions, all viewed through the eyes of a teenager coming of age. And... each of them cause you to think about our current society and your own choices. In this book there was a close examination of love - and the choices we make - and what it would be like if we didn't have those choices to make.

The main character

I liked it all

Just a warning.... I generally read YA fiction to avoid sexuality, swearing and violence. I get that doesn't bother some listeners, but its not my thing. This book definitely had swearing, although not a lot of it. I wish that had been excluded. There was some mild violence, but it did not bother me. And although there was not a sex scene, there was definitely a scene where it came pretty close. That could have been left out, in my opinion. Just some information for those of you deciding whether to spend a credit.

A good solid listen

The imaginative world the author creates. Also, there isn't really a good or a bad guy. As listeners we end up liking both sides of the conflict.

This is obviously a book for younger listeners. As an adult I still enjoyed it. It wasn't my all time favorite, but I liked it enough to continue to purchase more books by the same author.

Absolutely. It was a compelling story with characters I cared about. It has romance, adventure and mystery. The romance pulls you in - but without sex scenes. Hooray! A clean read! At first when I thought of a book about tigers - who were really people I wasn't sure I would like it. But the reviews were good so I gave it a try. I was glad I did. I listened to all 3 books in 2 weeks. Usually it takes me a month to listen to one book. So, I will be recommending this to my friends and family. I can't wait for book 4!

The whole thing was great. I loved that the author let us in on the tiger being a prince at the beginning. I loved when Kelsey finally found out her tiger was a man.

Annika Boras in particular is amazing in all 3 books. The variations in accent, tone and expression is amazing! I could visualize the characters just from the way she would speak their voices. Probably the best narration by one person I have ever listened to - and I have heard probably 40 audio books.

It made me wish the characters were real so I could meet them and talk to them. I felt lots of emotions.

The only thing I did not like about the series was the self-centered nature of the main character - Kelsey - at times. Although she is not at all snobby which is wonderful, Kelsey sometimes cannot see beyond her own nose. As a result, she makes decisions that have an impact on others, but she mostly considers the impact on herself. I guess that is age appropriate, but at times it is rather irritating. (Warning - next text contains a spoiler). For example, when Kelsey leaves India and then takes forever to admit that she loves and trusts Ren I find it exhausting. Same at the end of book 3. It is obvious she and Ren need to be together, and my guess is that is what will happen in book 4 or 5, but because Kelsey is so afraid to trust him and doesn't challenge herself, she will end up hurting Kishan. I don't like those self-centered decisions. And even worse, Ren and Kishan put up with it. That is not reality. I don't think most men would put up with that. I guess that makes the book truly fictional! Still, though, well worth the compelling read / listen!

I read this book because one of the reviews said it was more realistic than Harry Potter and less cheesy than Twighlight, but just as gripping. I would mostly agree with these sentiments, but also add another book to compare to is The Hunger Games series. I usually take 2-3 weeks to listen to most audio books. Divergent took me 4 days. The only other audio book that I consumed this quickly was Hunger Games. I couldn't stop listening! The setting for Divergent - like Hunger Games - post apocalyptic and explores what societal issues are problematic. More than that though, Divergent offers a compelling story, with real emotions and challenges. I really enjoyed the first person narritave, although as a middle aged reader I found the teen "puppy love" romance side of things a little much - like a dessert that is a little too sweet. The main character is not nearly as self indulgent and self focused as Bella in Twilight; it is just that the author, in my opinion, spent too much time on the romance aspect of the story. It felt out of balance. Perhaps that is appropriate though for teen audience? Yet, I enjoyed Divergent enough to recommend it to my friends and write this review. And I will certainly look forward to a sequel. I hope there is one - and certainly the author has set it up that way. Hopefully it isn't too long until it comes out!